September 27, 1525.
He admonishes Hausmann that he should continue to cleanse the church in his place as much as possible, along with the neighboring congregations, if they should send for him, until the prince's order arrives, for which he promises to seek it from him, and indicates that he is working on a refutation of the Erasmian Scripture on free will.
Grace and peace in Christ. Do what you can and carry what you can, my dear Nicolaus. I am now entirely occupied with the refutation of Erasmus, but I know that the churches of a re-
*) This letter is found in Aurifaber, vol. II, col. 299 d (cf. Cod. Ion. a; col. 204), and in De Wette, vol. Ill, p. 30. According to the latter we have translated.
**) This letter is found in Latin in Aurifaber, vol. II, col. 300 and in De Wette, vol. Ill, p. 30. According to the latter we have translated.
I am also working on this, and for this reason I will also appeal to the prince. Otherwise, I can see that we are trying in vain if they are not provided with faithful shepherds: it will be like the Levites in the past, they will want to be served. If there is still no proper order in our church today, what can be expected in others, since new complaints come to me every day? Satanas is in the middle
stepped among them. Therefore, visit those at Schneeberg and all others whom you know only when they call you and they need you, because you know that it is not displeasing to the prince. I am putting off the edition of the catechism for a while, because I would like to finish it all at once. Be well and pray for everyone, as you do. My Ribbe [wife] greets you. September 27, 1525.
Martin Luther.